CAMPAIGNERS in Canada backing a Runcorn dad's fight to have lights on his son's grave have taken a humorous swipe at Halton Borough Council.

In a website mimicking the authority's own, the council is renamed 'Halton Burro Council and the face of each councillor is replaced by that of a donkey.

Dick Tregea, the council's director of planning and the environment, is labelled 'Jackass of the Year' on the site for his decision to order Peter Robinson to remove solar powered lights from his 10-year-old son Sean's grave at Runcorn Cemetery.

Sean died last year, aged 10, and Mr Robinson, of Boston Avenue, Runcorn, installed the lights because he promised his son he would never leave him in the dark.

However, council chiefs ruled the lights contravened cemetery rules and, in a letter to Mr Robinson, claimed they made the graveyard look like 'Blackpool illuminations'.

As a result of the letter Mr Robinson has refused to remove the lights and unfurled a huge protest banner at an early morning demonstration at Runcorn Town Hall.

Now Mr Robinson's plight has been picked up by a Canadian web-site called www.hopefulthinking.org which helps to console the bereaved.

Visitors to the site have bombarded Halton council's e-mail address with scores of messages demanding that the council change its policy.

Steve Dawkins, who runs the site and is leading the protest, told the Weekly News: 'The story of what Mr Robinson has had to put up with has struck a chord with thousands of people here in Canada and in the USA.

'We believe Mr Robinson should be able to mourn his son in whatever way he sees fit. The council should not be allowed to prevent him carrying out a promise he made to his son on his deathbed.'

Hundreds of people have already signed an online petition and scores more have sent e-mails to Mr Tregea.

One e-mailer said: 'I have just read the article about this little boy that did not want to be left in the dark. Have you no compassion for his family and, most of all, the feelings and final wishes of a little boy? There is no harm with these solar lights - with all the misery and fighting in the world, this is like pebbles in the sand.'

Another urged Mr Tregea: 'I hope you will do the right thing, light up Sean's night, honour his last wish. As a fellow human, I plead that you recognise the agony this family is suffering.'